DAPHNE, Alabama -- Standing in a slight breeze, under the full weight of Wednesday’s summer humidity, nearly a hundred of them chatted in groups, mopping brows and swapping stories.

But when the wall arrived, they all fell silent.

Active members of the military, veterans and well-wishers had all turned out to participate in a procession that delivered the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall from Frederick Boulevard in Daphne to the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center for public viewing until Aug. 15.

Around 2:30 p.m., the truck and trailer carrying the wall arrived and took its place in the honorary array, which consisted of restored military vehicles, law enforcement and more than 50 motorcyclists from veteran support groups, such as the Patriot Guard Riders.

The wall, which is 288 feet long and 6 feet tall at its center, is a 3/5-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., which has the names of 58,272 casualties engraved on it. It was built by the Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard group, based in Cocoa, Fla., in 2005 and was first displayed in 2006.

The league is holding its national convention in Mobile through Aug. 12-18. More than 2,000 are expected to attend.

Leaning on a telephone pole across the street from the wall’s transport trailer, Army veteran Ron Smith said the traveling memorial gives Americans the chance to pay their respects to Vietnam veterans without having to travel to the National Mall in Washington D.C.

"Those names on that wall mean a whole lot to us," said Smith, who lied about his age as a 17-year-old to enlist, later serving to ensure convoy security during the war.

He said Americans have become more aware of the sacrifice of veterans since the more-recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is the opposite of how his generation was received during, and after, Vietnam.

"When I came home from Vietnam, we had to take our uniforms off at the airport and put on civilian clothes on . . . because of the hostility toward the veterans that were fighting," Smith said. "We can sit here and argue about the war all day long, right or wrong.

"But the guys that are over there doing it, hands off."

Standing nearby, Robert Wingerd agreed with the notion that the sacrifice of veterans supersedes politics and opinion; that those who fight due so out of duty, and deserve due respect.

"These people fought and died because their country asked them to," Robert Wingerd said, motioning to the wall. "How can you not honor them and pay respects?"

The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be installed in the north exhibit hall of the convention center today, and will be open to the public from Friday to Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Viewing of the wall is free of charge, though organizers are asking for donations.